Returnal is a game that is shrouded in mystery. Aside from its engrossing gameplay and unforgiving difficulty that’s perfect for those who enjoy challenging games, a lot of players also found enjoyment in Returnal’s mysterious story. As the players progress through the game, and even as they reach its ending, they’ll only be presented with more questions instead of definite answers.
This is the beauty of Returnal’s narrative. After you’ve finished the campaign, the best thing to do is to discuss the game’s story and ending with other people who have played it as well. These are some of the most common questions you will most likely have as soon as you see those credits rolling at the end of the game.
8 Is It Really All In Selene’s Head?
The story of Returnal is incredibly obscure. However, one heavy implication is that everything in the game is just going on in Selene’s head. The events in the game are mere manifestations of Selene’s grief caused by the car accident that ended up killing her son.
While speculations and theorizing about Returnal are fun endeavors, and this is the most concrete explanation for the convoluted story, nothing is set in stone until the game’s creators say so. However, this may be one question a lot of fans don’t want to be answered since it will ruin the shroud of mystery that ultimately surrounds the game’s narrative.
7 Is Hyperion Selene’s Father?
Hyperion is the boss fight you will encounter at the end of the Echoing Ruins biome. During and prior to the fight, a haunting rendition of the song “Don’t Fear the Reaper” plays in the background, performed by Hyperion himself, who is oddly stuck in an organ.
Selene also plays a snippet of this song in some scenes on the piano. When faced with Hyperion, Selene will ask if he’s the one who taught her that. In Greek mythology, from which this game gathers heavy inspiration, Hyperion is the name of Selene’s father. There are a lot of implications that the boss Hyperion is a representation of Selene’s father, but the truth of it all ultimately remains a mystery.
6 Was Theia Also An Astronaut?
Theia is Selene’s mother. There are hints throughout the game that suggests Selene and her mother did not have the best relationship. In fact, it can also be argued that Theia was somewhat abusive towards Selene.
There are also hints that Theia may have been the one who goaded Selene to become an astronaut. Whether Theia was an astronaut or failed at being one, leading to her projecting her dreams on her daughter, is yet unknown.
5 Theia’s Fate
The implication of Theia’s appearance, or at least, a representation of her, during the game’s secret ending is very peculiar. For one, it is unknown whether or not she is still alive during the events of the game. What is clear, however, is that Theia had a hand in Selene wanting to become an astronaut.
As mentioned, Theia and Selene’s relationship was very unhealthy. This is why Selene was so dismissive of Theia when she encounters a representation of her during Returnal’s ending. Her sitting on a wheelchair and falling on the floor afterward could mean that Theia had already succumbed to an illness prior to the events of the game, but the real story is not exactly known to the player.
4 Who Wrote The Scout Logs?
Scout logs appear constantly in the game, seemingly written by Selene herself. However, Selene has no recollection of ever writing these logs. This may imply that Selene had already explored Atropos prior to the events of the game and the first time the players arrive at the planet is just another cycle happening, but that doesn’t explain why she remembers everything moving forward after dying.
If the idea of the game only being in Selene’s head is taking as fact, the presence of the scout logs and the protagonist having no recollection of documenting those is still a mystery.
3 Who Is The Rejection Letter Addressed Towards?
In the 20th-century house, there is a rejection letter for an astronaut program. Who it is addressed to is unknown. In the game, there are two candidates for this, Selene and her mother Theia.
Selene being rejected by the astronaut program could explain her spiral that ultimately led to the car accident that killed her son. However, it also explains why Theia was so rough on Selene growing up.
2 Can This Game Be Made Better With The Addition Of A Save Option?
The implementation of a save option in Returnal is something a lot of players have called for. A lot of people believe that it will make the gameplay more accessible for those who don’t have the time and the patience to go through hours of a single run, only for them to lose that progress with one death.
There are those, however, who believe that the game is perfect the way it is and that the absence of a save option makes sense for the game’s nature. Whichever side you’re on, only its actual implementation will tell whether or not the addition of a save option will make this game even better.
1 Will This Game Be Released On Other Platforms?
While Returnal is a PlayStation 5 exclusives, it is not unusual for these games to eventually become available on PC. In fact, it is a directive Sony has been putting out more as of late. Sony even has a curated page on Steam which you can visit today.
With this in mind, could Returnal eventually make its way to Steam, for PC players to enjoy? It is too early to say, and even if that were to happen, it most likely won’t transpire until years down the line. As of now, though, it’s fun to speculate about the game’s trajectory in the future.
NEXT: Returnal: Ranking The 10 Base Weapons
